Screw Feed Belt

ABSTRACT

A screw feed belt includes a plurality of substrates; at least one mating member disposed at one end of the substrates; at least one corresponding mating member disposed at other end of the substrates; and a plurality of supports disposed between the at least one mating member and the at least one corresponding mating member, wherein the support includes an annular opening in the substrate, an annularly flanged mouth distal the opening, and a plurality of equally spaced slits each formed between the mouth and the opening; and wherein a plurality of screws are adapted to retain in the supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to screw feeding devices and more particularly to a screw feed belt for an air gun.

2. Description of Related Art

Auto-feed devices for air gun are well known in the art. For example, there is a typical screw feed belt comprising a flexible belt body and cutouts for intermittently driving the belt body, the cutouts being formed along either side or both sides of the belt body. Screw holding cylinders are formed in the belt body at the same pitch as the cutouts so as to receive and hold screw shanks. The screw feed belt further comprises apertures extending outward and radially from the opening of each screw holding cylinder. The apertures are given a shape of sector and have a width increased towards its bottom. Thus, the bottom is a portion of an imaginary circle coaxial with the cylinder and has a diameter greater than that of the screw head. A skirt is defined by two adjacent apertures. The skirt has a circumference decreased towards the imaginary circle.

However, the typical screw feed belts suffer a number of drawbacks. For example, after the screw leaving the support at the driving process, slits may not be broken and some portions of the support are separated from the screw feed belt. They are not durable because they are formed of PP (polypropylene). Finally, they are not adapted to different sizes of a variety of screws. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a screw feed belt comprising a plurality of substrates; at least one mating member disposed at one end of the substrates; at least one corresponding mating member disposed at other end of the substrates; and a plurality of supports disposed between the at least one mating member and the at least one corresponding mating member, wherein the support comprises an annular opening in the substrate, an annularly flanged mouth distal the opening, and a plurality of equally spaced slits each formed between the mouth and the opening; and wherein a plurality of screws are adapted to retain in the supports.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a unit of a screw feed belt according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing two units secured together to increase length of the screw feed belt;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the unit with a screw being temporarily fastened therein;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the screw being disengaged to be adapted to fasten an object;

FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the unit showing a number of different screws with various threads and different shank diameters to be temporarily secured thereto;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation showing an air gun driving one of screws of the screw feed belt into an object; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the unit showing another configuration thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, a screw feed belt 1 in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of units adapted to fasten together to increase length of the screw feed belt 1 as desired. The screw feed belt 1 is formed of PE (polyethylene) so as to be flexible.

Each unit of the screw feed belt 1 is elongated and comprises a plurality of substrates 12 formed integrally. On two substrates 12 at one end, two mating members 13 are provided. On two substrates 12 at the other end, two corresponding mating members 14 are provided. A plurality of supports 11 are provided between the mating members 13 and the corresponding mating members 14. The support 11 is a funnel shaped member and comprises an annular wide opening 113 in the substrate 12, an annularly flanged narrow mouth 112 spaced from the substrate 12 by a predetermined height, and four equally spaced slits 111 each formed between the mouth 112 and the opening 113. The mating member 13 is a shaped riser having a lock member 131 and the corresponding mating member 14 is a shaped through hole having a latching element 141. The latching element 141 is adapted to lockingly engage with the lock member 131 (i.e., the mating member 13). Thus, the mating members 13 of one unit can be lockingly connected to the corresponding mating members 14 of another unit if an increased length of the screw feed belt 1 is desired (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 5, a variety of screws 2 of different shank lengths, diameters, and threads can be fastened in the supports 11 prior to use. Further, one of a plurality of screws 2 fed from a feed device (not shown) can be temporarily retained in the support 11 with the screw head rested upon the opening 113 and the screw shank inserting through the support 11 to expose its sharp end (see FIG. 3).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 specifically, screw feed belts 1 with screws 2 loaded are produced at the factory. A user may load the screw feed belt 1 to the front end of an air gun 3. The air gun 3 thus continuously, sequentially drives a screw 2 in the moving screw feed belt 1 into an object 4. One or two slits 111 may be broken after the screw 2 leaving the support 11 at the driving process. But advantageously, no portions of the support 11 are separated from the screw feed belt 1.

Referring to FIG. 7, in another configuration of the screw feed belt thickness of the mouth 112 is decreased.

While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A screw feed belt comprising: a plurality of substrates; at least one mating member disposed at one end of the substrates; at least one corresponding mating member disposed at other end of the substrates; and a plurality of supports disposed between the at least one mating member and the at least one corresponding mating member, wherein the support comprises an annular opening in the substrate, an annularly flanged mouth distal the opening, and a plurality of equally spaced slits each formed between the mouth and the opening; and wherein a plurality of screws are adapted to retain in the supports.
 2. The screw feed belt of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one mating member comprises a lock member, and wherein each of the at least one corresponding mating member comprises a latching element adapted to lockingly engage with the lock member.
 3. The screw feed belt of claim 1, wherein the substrates, the at least one mating member, the at least one corresponding mating member, and the supports are formed of PE (polyethylene).
 4. The screw feed belt of claim 1, wherein the support is shaped as a funnel. 